In 2010, I did something that most parents, high school councilors, and academic advisors might advise against: I graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in Theatre. Like many others in my generation, I was graduating into one of the worst recessions in American history: the "Great Recession," when other, more "stable" fields were experiencing financial hardship, and even "backup" jobs were extremely scarce.

​

My stories from this and other times of transformation in my life describe how I went from community theatre to Off-Broadway. They tell of how I went from being told I was an incapable designer to having my work exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London - and how I was treated like I was less-intelligent only to become a PhD Candidate in Theatre and Performance Studies.

​

There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to a career in theatre, but here are some things I've learned that have helped me.